Stability and Control characteristics of the Early Mark Spitfires

[6S.Manu]

Sure! Spins there used as defensive manouvres: it was a tactic used by many pilots in many different planes...

Anyway it's clearly a defensive manouvre that sometimes saved the life of that pilot leaving your squad with one less unit in combat, resting with the enemy's decision to follow you.

It keep the pilot alive, but don't make you win the battles.

[taildraggernut]

Originally Posted by 6S.Manu

Sure! Spins there used as defensive manouvres: it was a tactic used by many pilots in many different planes...

Anyway it's clearly a defensive manouvre that sometimes saved the life of that pilot leaving your squad with one less unit in combat, resting with the enemy's decision to follow you.

It keep the pilot alive, but don't make you win the battles.

Aren't you missing the point?.......the idea was apparently the Spitfire was dangerous to spin, now if this post isn't clear evidence of the maniacal and bizarre avenues Spit critics are going.....

Serously, whats the difference between an aircraft that is out of combat because it evaded an opponent and an aircraft that is out of combat because it was shot down?.....that's right, the one that got away will fight again, just like the account winny posted.

[6S.Manu]

Originally Posted by taildraggernut

Aren't you missing the point?.......the idea was apparently the Spitfire was dangerous to spin, now if this post isn't clear evidence of the maniacal and bizarre avenues Spit critics are going.....

Serously, whats the difference between an aircraft that is out of combat because it evaded an opponent and an aircraft that is out of combat because it was shot down?.....that's right, the one that got away will fight again, just like the account winny posted.

I've never stated it was dangerous to spin in it because of the recovery: conversely I keep claiming that it was prone to spin... and spinning in combat is far from a safe manouvre.

It can save you life once, twice... but air combat is also a matter of numbers! It's really possible that another guy died because his wingman spinned down.

[taildraggernut]

Originally Posted by 6S.Manu

I've never stated it was dangerous to spin in it because of the recovery: conversely I keep claiming that it was prone to spin... and spinning in combat it's far from a safe manouvre.

It can save you life once, twice... but air combat is also a matter of numbers! It's really possible that another guy died because his wingman spinned down.

I know what you were getting at, I just thought it was somewhat tenuous to have brought it up, the thread is about Spitfire stability not about bad decisions made in combat.

[6S.Manu]

Originally Posted by taildraggernut

I know what you were getting at, I just thought it was somewhat tenuous to have brought it up, the thread is about Spitfire stability not about bad decisions made in combat.

Is being prone to spinning not a control issue?

What about pilots afraid to turn because of the spin?

[taildraggernut]

Originally Posted by 6S.Manu

Been prone to spinning it's not related to a Control issue? Stick forces?

Having the pilots afraid to turn because of the spin?

It is but I believe this thread has conclusively proved the Spitfire was not 'prone' to spin unexpectedly, no more prone to spin than any other aircraft in a high speed stall condition.

Some pilots are just afraid of spinning, not of the Spitfire, note how some conciously chose to spin....what were they afraid of?

[robtek]

Just forget it 6S.Manu, the Spitfire fan club wont accept ANY blemishes on their idol.

[6S.Manu]

Originally Posted by taildraggernut

It is but I believe this thread has conclusively proved the Spitfire was not 'prone' to spin unexpectedly, no more prone to spin than any other aircraft in a high speed stall condition.

Some pilots are just afraid of spinning, not of the Spitfire, note how some conciously chose to spin....what were they afraid of?

Then we ended with a different conclusion... small stick travel and low stick force required are enough for me. 3G with less than a inch of stick movement...